The Leveling

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There is not a false note in the character development. The action sequences are taut and very realistic,and serve to further the plot.. Daria Buckingham is also a welcome return character, as she is not simply a pretty ornament The underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran are transformed into characters themselves, thanks to Mayland's wonderful sense of creating atmosphere being put to perfect use. I very highly recommend reading them both though, as each is a magnificent example of a thinking person's thriller.

Sep 25, Chessy The Cat rated it it was amazing. His life was rather peaceful.

That is until an assassin attempts to kill him while he is tutoring the son of a high-ranking member of society. With his known past, the government of Azeri kicks him out of the country permanently. Before he can leave he receives photos he believes came from his friend John Decker.

But, Sava feels he must find Decker first. Who wants Sava killed and why? From the dark underworld of the Middle East Sava and his former girlfriend, Daria Buckingham search for answers and Decker. Add the Chinese to the mix and the region is set for war. If you love spy novels The Leveling will not disappoint. It will keep you guessing until the very end. The fast-paced action is almost nerve-wracking.

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Trust is a commodity easily bought and then resold. Apr 10, Mihir rated it really liked it. The story is set nearly an year after the events of the first book. He soon finds himself termed persona non-grata in his adopted country and has to find out why and who are behind these recent turn of events. This book is distinctly different from its predecessor, while the first one was more of a spy thriller that focused on locales that have almost never been touched upon.

This one works a bit differently. It also features John Decker who had a tiny role in the first book however is in quite a tough spot due to certain events that occur. The story is more of a thriller and has twin story threads that often run in tandem and keep the reader hooked into discovering as to how they are tied together.

The Leveling

Like the last book, the main mystery thread is well handled and keeps the readers engaged till the very end. In fact I would say with this book has a better mystery thread than the first one. It involves a whole lot of stuff that creeps up in headlines as well as the usual geopolitical alliances that are very hard to discern. There's also the action sequences which are a bit restrained than the last one however are no less intense as the author brngs to the fore the various torture techniques that come to the fore with regards to spies that are caught.

The author doesn't really take sides in the torture debate but simply shows how viscerally disturbing it can be. Another thing about this book is that it serves as a standalone while the past events are referred to, the readers who are new to this series will not feel left out. The standalone nature of the story is a good thing as it becomes easy for newer readers to jump in and for older readers its not difficult to pick up from wherein the story ended last.

The time gap is about eight-ten months between both the books and the author provides enough clues about what has occurred since then for the current relations between characters to be so. With this book, I believe the author is marking out an ending of sorts to the various character arcs and hopefully the next book will showcase newer aspects of the characters's lives and even newer locales.

In the previous book, there was quite a bit of tension between Sava and Daria and that kept the narrative pretty interesting. The ending however brings and end to aan important phase in Mark Sava's life and heralds the beginning of a slightly new direction in the series which will only makes the wait for the next book that much more beguiling. Jun 24, Jacqui rated it it was amazing.

BBC - The Levelling - BBC Films

He thinks he's done it--remade himself complete with serious girlfriend ignorant of his past, non-CIA friends, and memories that don't include blood and butchery. Until fate intervenes and he is thrown out of his adopted country about the same time John Decker, a friend from his spy days, goes missing, presumably kidnapped. The plot isn't terribly original. What makes this a five-star read is how Mayland writes--the plot twists, character development, and setting knowledge that no one short of a man who's lived that part of the world in too-close relief would know.

Tell me that you don't see exactly what Mayland wants you to with this perfect collection of words: A dirty minibus belching diesel fumes and packed with people lurched by. An old man in a three-piece suit slowly painted the trunk of a sidewalk tree white. A lady in high heels and a miniskirt chatted on a cell phone while a withered Gypsy woman in bright clothes swept the street.

Or how about this: He thought about how Buddhist monks would spend days constructing an intricate sand painting, only to destroy it right after they'd finished. The exercise allegedly helped them embrace impermanence. Which was exactly what he needed to do. This description shows up on page Tell me you can resist a character who knows how Buddhist monks train? Lots of flashbacks, early in the book. Mayland makes them work because they aren't narrative and reflective. They're action-packed and pithy. I can handle that.

Overall, if you're crunched for time over the summer, this is not the book you want to skip. Aug 07, Jody rated it really liked it Shelves: I received this book for free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. This book had a Steve Berry ring to it. The main character, Mark Sava, is a big draw.

There is something about him that really struck me. It may be his quiet presence even though he is in the middle of intense action. I like the way the book kept the action going, I don't remember ever feeling tired or bored with this book. There is a romantic tension between Mark and his ex-girlfriend Daria. The ending is not complete I received this book for free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. The ending is not completely clear on whether they get back together or not but I am sure the author planned it that way so we will be drawn to the next installment.

I hate that Decker had to go through everything he went through but found his strength and will power to be amazing. I also appreciate the way Mayland was able to give us background information without me feeling that I was in a classroom reading a boring history book. For those who are fans of the Cotton Malone series or the Camel Club will enjoy this series.

Mayland for an enjoyable read. Another perfectly mediocre book in this series. As with the first one The Colonel's Mistake , it was entertaining enough, but ultimately not something truly worth my time. There are two more books in this series but I think I'm going to skip those and move onto something better.

May 04, Shawna rated it it was ok. The author knows his locations. The story was okay. It dragged on for a bit, in my opinion. The author gives his main character a series of books. Not my thing, so I have no interest in reading more. Michele Washington Fast moving. The characters stayed true to the first novel with some surprises. Can't wait for the next book.

I was looking forward to its follow-up, and lo and behold, Dan himself contacted me directly so surely that puts us on a first name basis? He asked only that I read it if I so chose--and writing a review was optional.

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I have to apologize to Dan, since it was no longer an advanced copy by the time I got to read it and now write this review. Mayland once again takes us to the fringes of the Middle East with which we are more familiar, setting this novel primarily in Turkmenistan and Iran. Mark Sava has left the spy game behind and become a professor in Azerbaijan. However, after becoming persona non grata by the government and asked to return to the U. He teams up with Daria, crossing the border between Turkmenistan and Iran, looking for Decker and being chased by members of Chinese intelligence.

Meanwhile, Iran and the US are on the brink of war brought about by a secret conflict over oil. This book surpassed its predecessor in so many ways. The characters were deeper. The plot was tighter. The suspense was built well. The ride was a bigger thrill. In fact, all I wanted to do was read this book. Unfortunately, I had to keep putting it down to be a responsible adult for a few minutes here and there. Well done, Dan Mayland. May 04, Jo rated it it was amazing Shelves: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return, I have supplied an honest review of it.

The Levelling

I hadn't read Dan Mayland's previous book The Colonels mistake and was concerned that it may have hampered my understanding of events prior to reading this book, I needn't have worried Maylands descriptions and plot enthralled me with its non stop action. This author is a brilliant new talent, Matthew Reily fans are going to love this series the non stop adventure and incredibly clever writing has made a fan of this reviewer. Mar 23, Orest Stelmach rated it it was amazing. Retired CIA station chief turned academic Mark Sava returns to action to find out who is trying to kill him and why.

Mark Sava, the hero of Mr. Mayland's debut novel, The Colonel's Mistake, is enjoying the quiet life in the city of Baku in Azerbaijan. He moonlights as an English instructor for an influential government official. When an assassin fires on the official's son during a private tutorial, Sava is relieved that the boy escapes the attack unharmed.

He is less pleased, however, to discove Retired CIA station chief turned academic Mark Sava returns to action to find out who is trying to kill him and why. He is less pleased, however, to discover that he was the assassin's true target.

Banished from Baku, Sava begins a quest to elude his killers and understand their motives. His investigation reveals that his former associate, John Decker, may know the reason he is in danger. But Decker is missing. Sava's former colleague and lover, Daria Buckingham, is already searching for Decker.

The two join forces and follow a trail of clues along along treacherous terrain in Central Asia to find him. Sava and Buckingham are complex characters, driven by a sense of honor yet possessing the capability of being ruthless when required. Mayland's stories are steeped in reality and his characters act accordingly. Monterey Media Release Date: When Clover Catto Ellie Kendrick receives a call telling her that her younger brother Charlie Joe Blakemore is dead, she must return to her family farm and face the man she hasn't spoken to in years: She is shocked to discover her home changed forever by the devastating floods Somerset, October She is shocked to discover her home changed forever by the devastating floods that destroyed the area six months earlier, and Aubrey a tormented shadow of his former self.

As she learns what has been going on in her long absence she and her father forge a new understanding, but can it withstand the troubles that they face on the ravaged farm as well as the truth of what drove Charlie to take his own life?

See All Details and Credits. The Playlist - Oliver Lyttelton Mar 23, Screen International - Allan Hunter Mar 23, It may be modest in scale but the film is assured in both intention and execution, building successfully towards a quietly moving climax. The Levelling is a wonderful first feature from Hope Dickson Leach. Or maybe the horror is, in fact, left in place, the real horror that was there all along, more disturbing than exotic fantasies about Wicker Men, the day-to-day reality about where food comes from and in what circumstances, in an industry that has until now been widely supported by EU subsidy, in a countryside whose beauty is not charming or picturesque, but menacing, uncompromising, unforgiving.

It makes The Levelling seem like the kind of film in which all the disquieting mood setting and establishing shots seem to be leading up to some jump-scare that recedes over the horizon. What remains is scary enough. And of course the title refers to the great levelling itself: The Levelling begins with what appears to be a classic moment of horror: We see flashes from flaming torches, faces subliminally illuminated, animal and bird noises that could ambiguously be cries of pain.

In the cold light of day, we later see the wrecked farmyard in which the party took place. Clover Ellie Kendrick is the first-year vet student who has just arrived back at the family home, to be confronted by this scene and also her father Aubrey David Troughton , who like his daughter is devastated. Because Clover has come for what is to be a funeral — her brother, who had just been given the farm, died at this party in what Aubrey is still insisting was a shotgun accident.

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